Best Menus in Games?

Here's a weird one. You have any favorite menus in games? Could be because of art or how efficient they are. Could be some kind of in-game menu or a start menu. I don't know whatever you come up with.

I've always liked the menus for Final Fantasy games. They're all similar to previous games, and they're fun to navigate. Even the noise as you move is pleasant to me. The Last of Us is pretty cool too, since it doesn't pause the game when you go in it, so you're still vulnerable.

Not Skyrim. Well, after I modded Skyrim it was good, but pre-mod it's one of the worst inventory menus ever considering how big the game is.

I really liked Dead Space in that it was "in game" - being projected from his suit and you can see the character looking at the items as you do. Really helped me get immersed.

Yeah the Dead Space one was really cool. From a strictly visual design perspective though I like the main menus in Alien Isolation and Jazzpunk the most last year. In terms of functionality, I think that's hard to decide because a well done menu will probably be something you won't remember navigating.

Aja makes a good point in that a good menu is kind of forgettable in the best way possible, because you probably wouldn't note that it works so well because it just works. I can think of loads of menus that angered me. Like Bioware's Inventory screens...well, most RPG's inventory screens to be perfectly fair. I just want more sorting options.

Mass Effect 3 was all like "Right, we're going to just stick with modifiers for your armor but screw all this picking up the best vests from dead guys crap and we'll stick to your stats winning the day."

New Dragon Age comes out..."LET'S GIVE YOU 10 OF THAT USELESS SHIRT THAT YOU'LL PICK UP ANYWAY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T COLOR CODED IT TO SHOW IF IT'S ANY BETTER OR WORSE THAN THE SHIRT YOU, OR ANY ONE OF YOUR FIFTEEN CHARACTERS IS WEARING."

Sorry, this topic has hit a nerve I didn't know was there...

I love how Pokemon Heartgold ad Soulsilver kept every menu tab on the touch screen so you didn't even need to tap a button to go there, you just touched what sub menu you wanted. Best interface in the series hands down. I also like how Assassins Creed integrates them so it feels like you're a part of the Animus. Not as cool as Dead Space's but cool nonetheless.

I was actually going to complain about Pokemon menus (in general) because they add steps. Like the PC box, why would I ever NOT pick "Organize box" where I can both deposit and withdraw pokemon? Why even have the other 2 options? Make me pick an item - pick a pokemon - confirm, just so many extra steps!

That's why I only mentioned HG/SS, they get rid of all that extra stuff and it feels so perfect. Also, withdraw and deposit are actually quicker if that's all you want to do. They give the option for Organize box to be the first selection now, so I don't have an issue with a quicker option if you just want to do one thing.

I didn't have much in mind when I made the thread, but I'd have to agree with Dead Space. Though I think I like the integration of the hud more so than the menus I guess.

I was going to chime in and say feel free to talk about bad menus, but Twolf has already started down that path I see. Also feel free to talk like the game's main menu before you start up a game. Not really important, but there are definitely some good ones.

I like Mass Effect 2's pre-main menu (when it asks you to hit start)...I don't know why. Just a really cool image and a satisfying sound when you go in. I still remember it. Good menu music too.

I couldn't tell you exactly why but I hated Mass Effect 2 and 3's actual main menus. Just looking at them frustrated me

Yeah, once you get past the start screen the actual main menu is SUPER lame. I think because it's such an epic game, and there's just...nothing. It's a table, with a monitor on it and you think "Is this how I'm going to launch into my epic space adventure?"

After playing through it, I have to put Metroid Prime 2 as a contender for worst menu. Has this weird thing where all the menu tabs are on these circles revolving a center point kind of like planets and the earth. You have to bring them to the center which takes more time and leads to more mistakes than moving up and down a menu. Then the scan data is divided into confusing subsections which makes it hard to look up the awesome lore or find which key I'm still missing. Glad it changed by 3, which had a pretty great Wiimote focused menu.

And this is true for the whole trilogy, but the map is awful too. Works great when you just have one story, but once you find an elevator, it's so easy to stay on the floor you want when picking out the best route.

I'd say that Final Fantasy probably gets my vote for favorite menus, mostly because they're much faster and more efficient than the menus of other games, they're good at describing what the item or skill you want to use actually does, and I like the sound effects.